pickling question

**Jayne** · 08-10-2009, 12:07 PM

This morning I had to pickle a few bits so I put them in the pickling unit, but didn't turn the unit on because I had to go out. Came back about 1 hour later to turn it on, only to find that they were already clean - without the need for heat. Is this a sign that my pickle is too concentrated? If so, is there a downside to this?
J x

**agent_44** · 08-10-2009, 12:09 PM

I think it's just a case of they will pickle without heat, it just takes longer!

**Jayne** · 08-10-2009, 12:18 PM

oooh......could this be an opportunity to save the planet? Switch off the picklers now???!!
J x

**Emerald** · 08-10-2009, 01:02 PM

it depends on the age of your pickle as to how well it will work cold and as you say the concentrate if you want things quick then it needs to be warm but if you have time leave it cool.

**Jayne** · 08-10-2009, 01:17 PM

I wish someone had told me this before I forked out on the @$%&/?* pickling unit - I needn't have bothered :-/
Thanks guys,
J x

**Jayne** · 08-10-2009, 01:18 PM

Just pickled another lot in 20 mins - no heat

**Di Sandland** · 08-10-2009, 01:44 PM

Another pickle question:

I've just soldered the clasp (my first handmade toggle and I'm a bit proud) onto a combined silver and copper bracelet. Can the two metals be pickled together, or will my silver go pink?

**Emerald** · 08-10-2009, 01:48 PM

Di it will be fine its steel that turns silver pink x

**Di Sandland** · 08-10-2009, 02:11 PM

Thanks Jo - in it goes then

**Boo** · 08-10-2009, 07:04 PM

I often leave items in my cold citric acid pickle ovenight - especially copper - you come down in a morning to lovely clean pink copper. It just works faster when warm.

If you pickle a lot of copper and it discolours the pickle, silver will take on a pale pink tinge from it. The answer to which is to not use old dirty pickle for silver pieces if you've done a lot of copper in it. It does plate it more rapidly, as posted, if you put something ferrous in too.